Jimmy Carr

Jimmy Carr

Jimmy Carr is a British comedian and stand-up performer from Isleworth, United Kingdom, working in satire. He is born in 1972 and builds a career around live comedy, television presenting and comic writing.

Early life and education

He is born in Slough, Berkshire to Irish parents and is educated at Burnham Grammar and the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe. At school he achieves four A grades at A-level. He then studies Social and Political Sciences at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he gains a 2:1 degree.

Career beginnings

After leaving Cambridge, Carr works for Shell as a marketing executive and later describes the job as the easiest job in the world. Less than two years later, he takes redundancy and joins JC Productions Ltd to begin a career in stand-up comedy. While working there with his father, he makes his first film at Pinewood, The Colour of Funny, starring Craig Charles and Roy Dotrice. The film fails commercially, and he later treats that setback as a reason to focus on comic writing and stand-up.

Television and live comedy

Carr gains wider recognition at the Royal Variety Performance. He is then chosen by Channel 4 to present game shows including Distraction and Your Face or Mine? He also presents 8 Out of 10 Cats on Channel 4. In recorded stand-up, he releases Jimmy Carr Live in 2004 and Jimmy Carr Stand Up in 2005.

Recognition

In 2003, The Observer lists him among the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.